Redskins have been historically bad vs. rookie QBs

ASHBURN, Va. (AP)

They are the only NFL team to lose eight straight against rookie
QBs since at least 1950, according to STATS.

Enter Nick Foles, the third-round pick from Arizona who is all
but certain to make his first NFL start for the Philadelphia Eagles
against the Redskins on Sunday.

''We haven't had great success against young guys,'' Redskins
cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. ''So if anybody in this locker
room's not going out there treating this guy like he was an NFL
starting quarterback, then they're crazy.''

The Redskins have since lost to newbies Bruce Gradkowski (2006),
Trent Edwards (2007), Joe Flacco (2008), Matthew Stafford (2009),
Sam Bradford (2010), Cam Newton (2011) and Christian Ponder (2011).
That's hardly an imposing list: Only Young and Flacco have career
winning records as starters. Points allowed in the last three of
those games: 30, 33 and 33.

The last time the Redskins beat a rook? A 24-9 victory over Ryan
Fitzpatrick and the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 4, 2005.

''It's been a while. I wasn't even in the league,'' defensive
tackle Barry Cofield said. ''And I'm an old guy.''

Cofield had no problem pointing out the pitfalls.

''Complacency's probably the No. 1 issue,'' Cofield said.
''You're going against a guy who you think's going to be at a lower
level, not going to be operating the way you expect (from) a
quality quarterback. And then you go out and not play your best
ball - and they look like Pro Bowlers.''

For Sunday's game, Hall said it'll be important to take
advantage of Foles' inexperience.

''He hasn't seen a lot of defenses in the NFL, so it's going to
be nice to get him out there and kind of break him in a little
bit,'' Hall said. ''But ultimately we've got to do a lot of things
right in this game. It's not just going to be him out there. He
still has a lot of weapons.''

The Redskins have precious little video on Foles. He completed
22 of 32 passes for 219 yards with one touchdown in his regular
season debut against the Dallas Cowboys last week after Michael
Vick left the game with a concussion. Foles also had an
interception for a touchdown, and lost a fumble in the end zone for
another Cowboys score.

The Redskins coaching staff got to know Foles a little bit when
they coached him in the Senior Bowl early this year. He can't run
like Vick, but he's a towering presence in the pocket - 6-foot-6
and 243 pounds.

''You haven't had the chance to evaluate him a lot, except for
the limited play he has had,'' coach Mike Shanahan said. ''You get
a chance to go back into preseason - you just really don't know for
sure. We were lucky enough to have him for a week at the Senior
Bowl. Not that you know everything about him. He's a great kid with
a lot of ability.''

Notes: WR Pierre Garcon remained limited in practice with his
foot injury, but offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan hinted that
the receiver could return after a four-game absence. ''He doesn't
have to be 100 percent to play. ... We would definitely rather have
him out there than not have him at all. We think he can help
regardless of what (percent) he is,'' Kyle Shanahan said. ... RT
Jammal Brown, trying to return from hip surgery, was sore and
unable to practice Thursday. ''It is a setback,'' Mike Shanahan
said. ... The NFL confirmed that Hall was fined $30,000 fine for a
confrontation with officials during the Oct. 28 loss to the
Pittsburgh Steelers. ''It was bad enough that you were vulgar with
the officials, but it was particularly disturbing that after the
first encounter with the officials, instead of separating, you
repeatedly went back towards the officials to continue your
tirade,'' NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray
Anderson wrote in a letter to Hall. When approached for comment by
reporters after practice, Hall responded: ''Back up off me, bro.''
... Mike Shanahan had some money and a passport stolen from the
Heinz Field locker room during the Steelers loss. He declined to
comment because a police investigation is ongoing.

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